The Milwaukee Bucks have no interest in entertaining a trade of either Giannis Antetokounmpo and the same appears to be true of Damian Lillard as they attempt to pull out of their 2-8 start to the season. The value of Antetokounmpo is undeniable and while Lillard may not have as much value as he did when the Portland Trail Blazers traded him in 2023, he would still have suitors.
“I was talking to people in the league about the Bucks and I started hearing from people who were saying to me, ‘You know the Bucks called us about trades,'” said Brian Windhorst on Monday’s episode of ESPN’s Hoop Collective.
“‘And I go about who?
“‘Not Giannis and not Dame,'” Windhorst relayed as the reply from the executive.
Windhorst added that an executive he was speaking on the phone with received a call from the Bucks during their call, which speaks to the extent of the team’s efforts to find a trade.
“Not Dame is interesting,” said Tim MacMahon. “And I wonder, and this is just a pure hypothetical: I wonder if they put Dame on the market, how much interest there would be?”
“There would be interest, sir,” replied Windhorst.
Lillard is signed through 26-27 and he has a player option in 2026. The size of Lillard’s contract would also make an in-season trade complicated from a salary cap perspective.